Beloved in the Lord,
“O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all.”
–Psalm 104:24
The recent actions of the Republic of Turkey to convert the historic Hagia Sophia into a mosque has drawn worldwide attention. While this political effort may be happening over 6,000 miles from the Metropolis of San Francisco and you may feel removed from its impact, it is incumbent upon each of us to become educated about this situation and appropriately protest this action and encourage the reversal of this decision.
We know that Hagia Sophia was the pre-eminent Church in all Christendom from its opening in the sixth century. Besides its significance for Christians, it was and still is an architectural marvel, and a place that has opened her doors for millions of people throughout the world over the centuries to witness her majesty and beauty. The decision to convert Hagia Sophia to a mosque places that openness in jeopardy.
Let us beseech the Lord, through His Might and Wisdom, to bring about a peaceful resolution and may Hagia Sophia be reinstated as a museum that is filled with love, unity and acceptance.
With Love in Christ,
+ G E R A S I M O S
Metropolitan of San Francisco
Throughout history, the use of Hagia Sophia would change. From 537 to 1204 AD it was a Greek Orthodox Cathedral. It became a Roman Catholic Cathedral from 1204 – 1261 AD, and then from 1261 – 1453 AD it once again was a Greek Orthodox Cathedral. In 1453 AD, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople and converted the Cathedral to a mosque. The icons were covered with plaster and the building was modified for Islamic prayer. It was through the leadership of the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, that Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum, thus allowing the doors to be opened for all to enter and appreciate this jewel which has continued for the past 85 years as a museum, a jewel which UNESCO designated as a World Heritage Site in 1984. During these 85 years, Hagia Sophia benefited from many restoration and research efforts, not least of which was the restoration of the iconography. Hagia Sophia has been intensely studied by architects, iconographers, engineers and archeologists, revealing its many treasures.
We stand at a crossroad as our beloved Hagia Sophia becomes a mosque through a ruling by Turkey's highest administrative court and actions by President Erdogan that annulled the 1934 presidential decree that made it a museum. Our physical distance cannot become an excuse for our silence. This is not about restoring Hagia Sophia to a church; this is about preserving an important piece of history and keeping it accessible to people of all backgrounds, of all faiths, and for all to behold this bastion of Byzantium. Please understand that the outcome of this tragic situation could have a devastating impact on other holy sites throughout the world.
Now is the time for us to act with unity of voice and a clear vision for the future of Hagia Sophia. Here is how you can help: